NFL opinions on Auburn's Newton all over the place
When one NFL general manager watches game film of Auburn's Cam Newton, he sees something special.
"This guy could be fantastic," he said.
Another general manager, who has also watched Newton on film, believes Newton "will be average at best."
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| Game-changing QB. Hall of Fame tight end. NFL middleman. Execs can't agree on Newton's pro prospects. (Getty Images) |
These were just some of the things a small group of NFL general managers and personnel executives told CBSSports.com regarding the pro potential of Newton. All asked for anonymity.
Newton hasn't publicly discussed in detail his NFL plans, but his stock might never be higher than now. He became the first player in SEC history to throw for at least 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in the same season. Some of the executives said they'd be stunned if Newton stayed at Auburn for another year.
Newton will easily be the most intriguing player in the upcoming draft, and it's clear based on these conversations the NFL is still deciding what to make of him.
There was little consensus on the Auburn quarterback among the NFL executives I spoke with. The most surprising aspect was the large gap in the range of opinion regarding his skills.
One general manager believes Newton's combination of height (he's 6-6), athleticism and throwing accuracy makes him the potential mold for the 21st century quarterback. Another said Newton was "a cross between Randall Cunningham and Phil Simms." (Imagine what that baby would look like.)
There was the general manager who said Newton would make the Hall of Fame at tight end. That same official (and others) believes Newton will be a bust at quarterback in the NFL.
One said from the film he's seen, Newton doesn't get the credit he deserves for being one of the more accurate passers in college football. Another said he was highly inaccurate.
There was just one consensus: All of the general managers interviewed said they didn't care about the accusations of impropriety Newton now faces. While saying he'd be asked repeatedly about them by teams at the combine (and in other interview situations), none felt the issues would significantly impact his draft position unless Newton was evasive.
It was one of the most interesting aspects of the conversations. Teams are often extremely punitive and judgmental about college players with troubled pasts. Even the most minor personal infractions are repeatedly autopsied. If these general managers are true indicators, the NFL doesn't seem as worried about Newton as it has with past players with personal issues.
It's difficult to believe this will remain the situation. NFL teams make Supreme Court cases out of players with gingivitis. Newton and his father, Cecil, are in the thick of separate federal, state and NCAA investigations alleging Cecil solicited funds from Mississippi State while Cam was enrolled at a junior college. The family has denied any wrongdoing.
The guesses for what round Newton would be drafted also varied wildly. The round that came up the most was second and the two teams most discussed were the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers. As one general manager explained, Newton's draft status, in part, would be further determined after he faces Alabama and Nick Saban's pro-style defense in Friday's Iron Bowl.
It seems the NFL is still unclear what to make of Newton, and it's understandable. He's one of the more unique players the NFL will ever evaluate. Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck will likely be the first quarterback taken in the upcoming draft (and probably the first overall player taken). But will he be the best quarterback?
Or in the end could that be Newton?
